I had a difficult time with my Shiba Inu when he was young, and when I started looking around for information, I found a lot of conflicting opinions on dog training and dog behavior. Some people think we should dominate our dog, others believe in rewarding a dog with food, and some try growling and biting like a dog. In this article, we try to sort out what is fact and what is myth.
How Dogs Learn, How Dogs Think
Dogs are not human. They do not learn in exactly the same way that we learn, nor do they think in exactly the same way as we think. Here, we consider how dogs think, and how they learn. By observing our dogs and expanding our knowledge of their behavior, we can better communicate with them and forge a strong and lasting bond.
Dog Psychology – What Is Fact and What Is Myth
Dogs psychology tries of understand dog behavior from a canine perspective rather than from a human perspective. Dog psychology is important because it underlies all of dog training, and allows us to modify our dog’s behavior. Here, we consider the relationship between dog psychology, dog behavior modification, and dog training.
Controlling a Dog’s Behavior – Is Total Control Necessary?
One of the key debates in dog obedience training is about control. Proponents of aversive dog discipline argue that the choice is between total control and no control. Either our dog is a fully controlled Stepford dog, or he is an accident waiting to happen. We consider Stepford dogs, and whether they are better or happier than regular dogs.
A Puppy’s First Words
What are good first words to teach a puppy? The first words I taught my Husky puppy Lara was Good Girl! Today, she continues to love those words because they are always followed by a good food reward. Then comes Nose, Sit, Down, and much more. Come share with us which first words your puppy learned, and which ones are her favorite.
Reward Dog Training
Reward dog training allows us to control our dog’s behavior by controlling his most desired resources. This is a very effective method for training our dogs because it helps to align our dog’s needs, with those of our own. In this way, we establish a cooperative training relationship with our dog, rather than one that is based on pain, dominance, and fear. Here, we highlight the good and bad of reward dog training techniques.
Aversive Dog Training
In aversive dog training we discourage bad behaviors by applying an aversive stimulus, and encourage good behaviors by stopping the aversive stimulus. Some example aversive techniques include leash corrections, poking a dog, slapping a dog, and alpha rolls. Here, we consider the good and bad of aversive dog training.
Puppy Obedience Training – How to Care for a Puppy
Puppy obedience training can be a challenge because puppies have a lot of energy and very short attention spans. While training a puppy, it is important to set up rules and routine, use positive reinforcement, and be very patient. Here are 7 puppy obedience training tips that helped me most while dealing with my little terrors on four paws.
Dog Obedience Training – Good and Bad
There are two schools of dog obedience training – aversive training and reward training. Both schools are based on operant conditioning principles and many years of study in animal behavioral psychology. Here, we examine the pros and cons of aversive and reward dog training.
Shiba Inu Training Secrets
Shiba Inus can be difficult to train because they are frequently stubborn, mouthy, aloof, and dominant. Even experienced dog owners have difficulty training a Shiba, which is why this breed is not for the faint-hearted, and is not recommended for first-time dog owners. Here are some of the Shiba Inu training secrets that helped me turn my devil dog into a model citizen.